Lint remover



V- W. HAND May 30, 19-67 LINT REMOVER Filed Oct. 12, 1965 FIG. 1.

8V HER HTTO/FNEYS. HARE/5, K/EcH, Russzu 69 Kamv United States Patent 3,321,790 LllNT REMOVER Viola W. Hand, 5051 Nestle Ave., Tarzana, Calif. 91356 Filed Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,081 8 Claims. (Cl. -104) This invention relates to a device for removing lint, hair, dandruff, and other foreign matter from various surfaces such as garments and more particularly to a flexible adhesive coated sheet which causes such foreign matter to adhere thereto upon contact of the adhesive coating with the foreign matter.

An object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, compact, and disposable lint-removing device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lint remover which is of simple construction and which is easy to manufacture. More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide a lint remover including a flexible sheet having one face thereof coated with adhesive material, a removable backing strip releasably adhered to the sheet by the adhesive material, and handle means for the flexible sheet.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lintremoving device which includes a flexible adhesive-coated sheet, a removable backing strip adhered thereto, and a handle which is cut from the sheet and the backing strip. According to a particular object of this invention, the sheet and backing strip have a pair of nonintersecting slits therein and the portions of the sheet and backing strip between the pair of slits define the handle for the device and the remainder of the sheet and backing strip exclusive of the handle define a body portion. The handle so formed has end portions integral with the body portion and a central portion separable from the body portion to define a space between the handle and the body portion through which at least one finger of a user may be inserted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lint remover of the kind described having a backing strip with at least one cut therethrough adjacent the nonintersecting slits to allow removal of the backing strip from the adhesive material on the body portion without removing the backing strip from the handle so that the backing strip covers the adhesive material sufficiently to prevent contact thereof by the fingers of the user. According to a particular object of this invention, this is accomplished by providing a first cut joining the slits adjacent one of the end portions of the handle and a second cut joining the slits adjacent the other of the end portions of the handle. Preferably at least the first cut extends completely across the backing strip. Thus, by bending the device the first cut provides a starting point for removing the removable backing strip from the adhesive-coated sheet. The first and second cuts through the backing material isolate that portion of the backing material which is adhered to the handle to allow removal of all of the backing strip except that portion which is adhered to the handle. Thus, the handle may be used without causing the adhesive material to contact the hand of the user.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a lintremoving device which is bendable about two generally perpendicular axes to allow the device to conform to the surface contour of the garment being cleaned to permit thorough cleaning thereof. More particularly, the body portion of the device is caused to bend about a first axis when the handle is pulled outwardly therefrom. Such outward movement of the handle leaves a cut-out portion in the body portion which defines a second axis which is generally perpendicular to the first axis and allows the body portion to be freely bendable about such second 3,321 ,799 Patented May 30, 1967 The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a lint remover constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1 with the thickness of the device being exaggerated; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front and side elevational views, respectively, showing the lint remover held in the hand of the user with the backing strip removed from the body portion.

Referring to the drawing and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, reference numeral 11 designates a lint remover constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The lint remover 11 includes a flexible sheet 13, a thin layer of adhesive material 15, and a removable backing strip 17. The lint remover 11 is preferably provided in the shape of a circle of about four inches in diameter; however, other shapes such as elliptical, rectangular, oval, etc. and sizes may be employed.

The sheet 13 may be constructed of paper, fabric, or a suitable synthetic material. The flexible sheet 13 has an outer face 19 and an inner face 21. The adhesive material 15 is adhered to the inner face 21 and is substantially coextensive therewith and the outer face 19 is free of adhesive material. The outer face 19 may have a decorative design thereon.

The backing strip 17 has an outer face 23 and an opposed inner face 25. The inner surface 25 is adhered to the adhesive material 15 and the backing strip 17 is substantially coextensive with the adhesive material and with the sheet 13. The backing strip 17 is preferably constructed of a paper which will adhere to the adhesive material 15 and be easily removed therefrom without retaining any of the adhesive material thereon. Thus, to use the lint remover 11, the backing strip 17 is removed from the adhesive material 15 to expose the adhesive material 15, which upon contact with lint or other foreign materials causes them to adhere thereto.

By appropriately cutting the sheet 13, the adhesvie material 15, and the backing strip 17, a handle 27 is quickly and inexpensively formed, Two centrally positioned, parallel, closely adjacent slits 29 and 31 are provided in the sheet 13, adhesive material 15, and backing strip 17. Preferably, the slits are approximately one-fourth inch apart and terminate approximately one-half inch from the edge of the lint remover 11. Thus, the handle 27 includes that portion of the sheet 13 and backing strip 17 between the two slits 29 and 31 and the remainder of the sheet and backing strip exclusive of the handle defines a body portion 33 of the lint remover. Preferably the longitudinal axis of the handle lies on a diameter of the device. The handle 27 has end portions 35 and 37 integral with the body portion 33 and a central portion 39 which is separable from the body portion to define a finger space 41 therebetween (FIG. 3) through which the fingers may be inserted.

To facilitate removal of the backing strip 17 and to prevent the hand of the user from contacting the adhesive material 15 of the handle 27, the backing strip 17 is provided with a first cut 45 joining the slits 29 and 31 at the end portion 35 and a second cut 47 joining the slits at the end portion 37. One or both of the cuts 45 and 47 may be chords, i.e. at least one extends completely across the backing strip 17 as shown in FIG. 1. To remove the backing strip 17, the lint remover 11 is bent about the cuts 45 and 47 to allow the edges of the backing strip along these cuts to be easily separated from w the adhesive material. If desired, a third cut through and across the backing strip 17 may be provided to facilitate removal thereof from the sheet 13, in which case it would not be necessary to extend the cuts 45 and 47 beyond the slits 29 and 31.

The slits 29 and 31 divide the flexible sheet 13 into anelongated portion or handle portion which forms a portion of the handle 27 and a flexible sheet body portion which forms a portion of the body portion 33. The elongated portion of the sheet 13 has end portions integral with the flexible sheet body portion and a central portion separable therefrom. The cuts 45 and 47 and the slits 29 and 31 divide the backing strip 17 into a cover portion having a periphery which conforms to the flexible sheet body portion and an elongated band conforming in contour to'the elongated portion of the flexible sheet 13. As shown in FIG. 1, the cover is divided into four separate sections. Thus, the portion of the backing strip 17 adhered to the body portion 33 may be removed without removing the portion of the backing strip adhered to the handle 27.

If desired, the cuts 45 and 47 may each be replaced with two cuts extending outwardly from the ends of the slits 29 and 31. Likewise, other arrangements of cuts may be employed which allow removal of the backing strip 17 from the body portion 33 without causing removal of the backing strip from the handle 27. However, the arrangement of cuts shown is preferred because it simply and inexpensively exposes the maximum amount of the adhesive material for use in picking up lint and other foreign material.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a typical shape of the lint remover 11 when in actual use with the backing strip 17 removed from the body portion 33. Movement of the central portion 39 of the handle 27 upwardly away from the body portion 33 forms the space 41 and causes the body portion 33 to bend or arch about a first axis which is generally perpendicular to the handle portion 2'7. Such upward movement of the handle 27 for-ms a cut-out portion 49 of the same size and shape as the handle. The cut-out portion 49 facilitates bending of the body portion 33 about a second axis which is generally perpendicular to the first axis. As shown in FIG. 4, the cut-out portion 49 closes near the center thereof to allow the body portion 33 to be freely bendable about the second axis. Thus, in actual use, the sheet 13 is freely bendable about two generally perpendicular axes to allow the sheet and adhesive material 15 to generally conform to the contour of the garment to be cleaned to permit thorough cleaning thereof. Of course, the flexible lint remover 11 may be caused to assume other shapes when in actual use.

Thus, by providing appropriate slits and cuts in the sheet 13 and the backing strip 17, an inexpensive, compact, disposable, lint-removing device is simply constructed. The flexible sheet can be caused to assume the shape of various irregular contours including that illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 in order that it might conform more precisely to the surface of the garment being cleaned to quickly and thoroughly remove the lint and other foreign matter therefrom.

Many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for removing lint and other foreign matter from garments, the combination of a flexible sheet having first and second opposed faces, said first face being coated with adhesive material and said second face being free of adhesive material, engagement of said adhesive material with the foreign matter causing the latter to adhere to said adhesive material; and

a removable backing strip having first and second opposed surfaces, said first surface engaging said adhesive material and being releasably adhered to said sheet by said adhesive material, said second surface of said backing strip substantially completely covering said adhesive material on said sheet;

said sheet and said backing strip having at least one elongated slit therein of sufficient length to allow insertion of at least one finger of a hand of a user therethrough, the finger when in said slit contacting said second face of. said sheet and a portion of said backing strip to thereby grasp said device for manipulation in the removal of the lint or other foreign matter;

said backing strip having at least one cut therethrough adjacent each end of said elongated slit to separate at least said portion of said backing strip from the remainder of said backing strip and to allow removal of said remainder of said backing strip without removal of said portion of said backing strip whereby said backing strip covers said adhesive material sufficiently to prevent the finger of the user from contacting said adhesive material during said manipulation of the device.

2. In a device for removing lint and other foreign matter from garments, the combination of:

a flexible sheet having first and second opposed faces,

said first face having adhesive material coated thereon and said second face being free of adhesive material, engagement of said adhesive material with the foreign matter causing the latter to adhere to said adhesive material; and

a removable backing strip having first and second opposed surfaces, said first surface engaging said adhesive material and being releasably adhered to said sheet by said adhesive material, said second surface of said backing strip substantially completely covering said adhesive material on said sheet;

said sheet and said backing strip having a pair of nonintersecting slits therein, the portions of said sheet and said backing strip between said pair of slits defining a handle and the remainder of said sheet, and backing strip exclusive of said handle defining a body portion, said handle having end portions integral with said body portion and a central portion separable from said body portion to define a space between said handle and said body portion through which at least one finger of a user may be inserted, said at least one finger being engageable with said second face on said body portion and said second surface on said handle;

said backing strip having at least one cut therethrough adjacent said slits to allow removal of said backing strip from said adhesive material on said body portion without removing said backing strip from said handle whereby said backing strip covers said adhesive material sufficiently to prevent said at least one finger of the user from contacting said adhesive material.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said slits of said pair of slits are centrally located, substantially parallel, and closely adjacent and said handle is relatively narrow and centrally positioned.

4. A combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said at least one cut includes a first cut joining said slits adjacent a first of said end portions, and a second cut joining said slits adjacent a second of said end portions.

5. In a device for removing lint and other foreign matter from garments, the combination of:

a flexible sheet having first and second opposed faces, said first face being coated with adhesive material and said second face being free of adhesive material, engagement of said adhesive material with the foreign matter causing the latter to adhere to said adhesive material; and

a removable backing strip having first and second opposed surfaces, said first surface engaging said adhesive material and being releasably adhered to said sheet by said adhesive material, said second surface of said backing strip substantially completely covering said adhesive material on said sheet;

at one of said end portions and a second cut joining said slits at the other of said end portions, said first and second cuts extending completely across said said sheet and said backing strip having a pair of nonbacking strip.

portion of said backing strip from the'remainder of said backing strip and to allow removal of said remainder of said backing strip without removal of said portion of said backing strip whereby said backing strip covers said adhesive material sufliciently intersecting slits therein, the portions of said sheet 5 7. In a device for removing lint and other foreign matand said backing strip between said pair of slits teifrom garments, the combination of:

defining a handle and the remainder of said sheet and a flexible sheet having first and second opposed faces; backing strip exclusive of said handle defining a body adhesive material coating said first face of said flexible portion, said handle having end portions integral sheet, engagement of said adhesive material with with said body portion and a central portion sep- 10 the foreign matter causing the latter to adhere to arable from said body portion to define a space besaid adhesive material, said second face of said flextween said handle and said body portion through ible sheet being free of adhesive material;

which at least one finger of a user may be inserted, a removable backing strip having first and second opthe formation of said space causing said body porposed surfaces, said first surface engaging said adtion to bend about a first axis perpendicular to said hesive material and being releasably adhered to said handle and forming an elongated cut-out portion in sheet by said adhesive material, said second surface said body portion along a second axis, said second of said backing strip substantially completely coveraxis being generally perpendicular to said first axis, ing said adhesive material on said sheet, said backing said cut-out portion allowing said body portion to be strip having a band portion and a cover portion, at freely bendable about said second axis whereby said least one cut located in said backing strip to separate body portion is bendable about said first and second said band portion from said cover portion so that axes to more nearly conform to the surface contour said cover portion may be removed from said sheet of the garment to permit thorough cleaning thereof; Without removing said band portion from said sheet;

said backing strip having a plurality of cuts thereand through adjacent said slits to separate at least said handle means including said band portion of said backing strip and a portion of said. flexible sheet, said band portion of said backing strip having suflicient surface area to substantially completely cover said portion of said flexible sheet.

8. In a device for removing lint and other foreign matter from garments, the combination of:

a flexible sheet having first and second opposed faces, said sheet having an elongated portion and a flexible sheet body portion, said elongated portion having end portions integral with said flexible sheet body to prevent the finger of the user from contacting said adhesive material. 6. In a device for removing lint and other foreign matter from garments, the combination of:

a flexible sheet having first and second opposed faces, 5

said first face being coated with adhesive material and said second face being free of adhesive material, engagement of said adhesive material with the foreign matter causing the latter to adhere to said portion and a central portion separable from said flexible sheet body portion;

adhesive material coating said first face of said flexible sheet, engagement of said adhesive material with the adhesive material; and foreign matter causing the latter to adhere to said a removable backing strip having first and second opadhesive malarial;

posed surfaces, said first surface engaging said adremove-bk g Strip having first and Second P' hhesivebmaterciial glad being rialeaslablygditerid to said posed surfacesl, saildbfirst sulrfaceblengaigling said ads ee y sa1 a esive ma ena, sa1 ac ing strip esive ma er1a an eing re easa y a ered to sai being coextensive with aid h et; sheet by said adhesive material, said second surface said sheet and said backing strip having two centrally of s i backing strip substantially completely coverpositioned,fpa r(21illil, closely adjicel'g. slits thegein, the mg salid adhesirl je rnlaterial on said sheet, said backing portions 0 sa1 s eet an said ac ing strip etween 5 P avlng a an Portion and a cover P at said two slits defining a narrow centrally positioned least one Cut located in Said backing strip to Separate htandle apdthe rfemaigdfir (:ifl sacildfisheet a g g ki saig band portion frombsaid cove;1 portion sao Itlhat 3 Up exc S 6 0 111 an e e 11mg 3 O y por. Sal COVBI por 1011 may 6 remove rom 83.1 S 6l3 tiog, 1gsaild handle haviig end polrtions integral with g g g g saicfl band lg i z from Said Sheet,

sai o y portion an a centra portion separable Sal an Portlon 0 Said ac ing Strip and Said from said body portion to define a space between Cover portion being substantially coextensive with said handle and body portion through which at least Said elongated Portion and Said flexible Sheet y one finger of a user may be inserted, the formation P respectively; and

of said space causing said body portion to bend about handle means including Said band Portion and Said a first axis perpendicular to said handle portion and elongated P forming an elongated cut-out portion in said body portion along a second axis, said second axis being References Cited generally perpendicularly to said first axis, said cutout portion allowing said body portion to be freely UNITED STATES PATENTS bendable about said second axis whereby said sheet 25,435 8/1963 Norman 15 104 is bendable about said first and second axes to per- 2695622 11/1954 Herod et 161 406 XR mit said sheet to general-1y conform to the contour 2,724,847 11/1955 Krasno 15-105 of the garment to permit thorough cleaning thereof;

said backing strip having a first cut joining said slits DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner. 

7. IN A DEVICE FOR REMOVING LINT AND OTHER FOREIGN MATTER FROM GARMENTS, THE COMBINATION OF: A FLEXIBLE SHEET HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED FACES; ADHESIVE MATERIAL COATING SAID FIRST FACE OF SAID FLEXIBLE SHEET, ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL WITH THE FOREIGN MATTER CAUSING THE LATTER TO ADHERE TO SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL, SAID SECOND FACE OF SAID FLEXIBLE SHEET BEING FREE OF ADHESIVE MATERIAL; A REMOVABLE BACKING STRIP HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSED SURFACES, SAID FIRST SURFACE ENGAGING SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL AND BEING RELEASABLY ADHERED TO SAID SHEET BY SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL, SAID SECOND SURFACE OF SAID BACKING STRIP SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY COVERING SAID ADHESIVE MATERIAL ON SAID SHEET, SAID BACKING STRIP HAVING A BAND PORTION AND A COVER PORTION, AT LEAST ONE CUT LOCATED IN SAID BACKING STRIP TO SEPARATE SAID BAND PORTION FROM SAID COVER PORTION SO THAT SAID COVER PORTION MAY BE REMOVED FROM SAID SHEET WITHOUT REMOVING SAID BAND PORTION FROM SAID SHEET; AND HANDLE MEANS INCLUDING SAID BAND PORTION OF SAID BACKING STRIP AND A PORTION OF SAID FLEXIBLE SHEET, SAID BAND PORTION OF SAID BACKING STRIP HAVING SUFFICIENT SURFACE AREA TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY COVER SAID PORTION OF SAID FLEXIBLE SHEET. 